by Grace Wilson
The new trend in eco-friendliness is finding its way into the spa world… a little bit, anyway. Green spas aren’t exactly easy to find, but they are out there. And if you’re the type of consumer who wants your money to support businesses that care about the environment, you can find green options when you want a day of pure indulgence … if you’re willing to do a little digging.

Green Spa Network

Spas with a conscious are starting to get organized. The Green Spa Network (www.greenspanetwork.org) is in it’s infancy and is working to promote “the natural connections between personal well-being, economic sustainability, and health of our planet.” There is some good information on their website: reasons why you should choose a green spa over a conventional one, and a listing of the general characteristics of a green spa. If you’re planning a spa vacation, they have a group of around 20 well-known “cultivator” spas in their network with locations from coast to coast.

But progress here is slow. I’ve been checking in on GSN’s website for several months now to watch as they grow. Unfortunately, not much has changed. And don’t bother trying to connect with someone at GSN to get more information (as I’ve tried) — it just isn’t fully developed yet. It’s a commendable start, though, and worth keeping in mind. They have solid goals and ideas and are setting a foundation for the future organization of eco-friendly spa owners.

Which leads us back to search engines and word of mouth to find what we’re looking for. Here are some spas I’ve found that sound interesting:

• Nusta Spa in Washington, DC, called “an extreme green spa” by Massage Magazine. Nusta is the first spa in the world to be awarded the US Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification. It’s not easy to get a LEED certification, so my hat goes off to Nusta Spa. And as far as their services are concerned, they say their commitment to sustainability runs through every fiber of their organization. They openly declare that everything from the products they use on their guests to the paper and ink they put in their printers, has all been taken into consideration. They believe in being green whenever possible to enhance both their customers’ experiences and their employees’ sense of well-being. (see www.nustaspa.com)
• Absolute Nirvana, the only green spa in Santa Fe, New Mexico, is one of the cultivator members of the Green Spa Network. Not only do they incorporate sustainable earth policies and practices, but they hope to inspire other spas to do the same. Read about their exotic Indonesian treatments on their website (see www.absolutenirvana.com) if you’re looking for something ultra-luxurious and unique.
• Koru Eco-Spa located on eco-conscious Block Island, Rhode Island, though only open seasonally for tourist seasons, has a deep concern for the environment at every level of its business. In addition to their commitment to using non-toxic products in the construction and maintenance of their facilities, they use pure skin care lines and scour the local community for ingredients to use in their treatments. Block Island itself is a sanctuary for over 40 rare or endangered species. (see www.koruecospa.com).

To find local spas that may not rank high in search engine results, all you can do at this point is ask the questions that are important to you. I’m still hoping for some kind of stamp of approval for green spas, as with “certified organic” produce. But for now, we have to do our own research.

How Green Is Your Spa?

Here are some things I would look for in a green spa:

1. Are their product lines organic? Rain-forest friendly? Locally produced? What is special about them?
2. What type of green energy practices do they use? Have they switched to CFLs in all their lighting? Do they buy green energy credits to offset their carbon footprint? Have they gone solar? Do they give their employees free bus passes, or provide other encouragement to use public transportation?
3. Do they collect rainwater for irrigation? Grow their own herbs or food plants? Recycle? Compost waste?
4. Do they use exclusively non-toxic building materials whenever possible? What about their marketing materials? What types of paper and ink do they use?
5. How do they deal with their laundry?

As with any journey, make sure to enjoy the ride. Easy to do when your journey consists of discovering new spas!